Spotlight on the Asian Giants

By Shreya Sushil, Government Law College, Mumbai.

This, definitely can we say, calls for a fresh beginning between India and China! From strained ties to signing of 24 propitious Agreements, rays of mutual consent towards amiable neighbourhood are quite vibrant. The critics may perceive these agreements as some mere treaties on papers, the accomplishment of which is travelling in dim light.

It is to be mentioned here at the outset that these Agreements indeed are some 24 fair deals between these two reasonably designated “Asian Giants”, fair enough!

Let’s take this much talked about “Tour of the Indian Squad to the Dragon State” headed by Prime Minister Modi  a step further and talk a bit about the issues at hand which hit the headlines of the print and the electronic. Also, the Prime Minister’s intentions towards achieving a peaceful arrangement between India and China are indeed evident in the agreements that the two signed during the three-day caucus.

$22 Billion Trade-Deals *sigh*

The Key Agreements between I&C included bullets of development attempting to boost the ties in the fields of education to railways to skill development. Here’s a near accurate sizing-up attempt of what came out as a result of the three-day Diplomatic Mission:-

  1. Protocols between I&C on the establishment of consulates-general at Chengdu and Chennai and the extension of the consular district of the consulate general of India in Guanzhou to include Jiangxi province.
  2. MoU between the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship of India and the ministry of human resources and social security of China on co-operation in the field of vocational education and skill development.
  3. Action plan on co-operation in setting up of the Mahatma Gandhi National Institute for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
  4. MoU between India and China on consultative mechanism for cooperation in trade negotiations.
  5. MoU on co-operation between the ministry of external affairs of India and international department of the central committee of the Communist Party of China.
  6. MoU on education exchange programme.
  7. MoU between the ministry of mines of India and the ministry of land and resources of China on the cooperation in the mining and minerals sector.
  8. Space Cooperation Outline (2015-2020).
  9. Protocol on health and safety regulations on importing Indian rapeseed meal between the export inspection council, ministry of commerce and industry of India and the general administration of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine.
  10. MoU between Doordarshan and China Central Television on co-operation in the field of broadcasting.
  11. Agreement between the ministry of tourism of India and the national tourism administration of China on cooperation in the field of tourism.
  12. MoU on establishing India-China Think-Tanks forum.
  13. MoU between India’s Niti Aayog and the Development Research Centre, State Council of China.
  14. MoU between India’s ministry of earth sciences and the China Earthquake Administration concerning cooperation in the field of earthquake science and earthquake engineering.
  15. MoU between India’s ministry of earth sciences and the State Oceanic Administration of China on cooperation in the field of ocean science, ocean technology, climate change, polar science and cryosphere.
  16. MoU on scientific cooperation between Geological Survey of India, ministry of mines of India and the China Geological Survey, ministry of land and resources of China in geo-science.
  17. MoU between the ministry of external affairs of India and ministry of foreign affairs of India and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  18. Agreement on the establishment of sister-state/province relations between state government of Karnataka and provincial government of Sichuan of China.
  19. Agreement on establishment of sister-city relations between Chennai and Chongqing of China.
  20. Agreement on establishment of sister-city relations between Hyderabad and Qingdao of China.
  21. Agreement on establishment of sister-city relations between Aurangabad and Dunhuang of China.
  22. MoU between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Fudan University on the establishment of a centre for Gandhian and Indian studies.
  23. MoU between Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Yunnan Minzu University on the establishment of a yoga college.

Some other Key Highlights from the Visit

Apart from the abovementioned Agreements, there were some other elements which equally grabbed the attention and were issues that not only needed to be addressed but redressed too. These included:-

Border Dispute:-

We are quite aware of the Border Dispute, one of the grave reasons for I&C strained ties. The two Nations have given it a fair trial to resolve the animosity existing on the military front.

Tourism:-

India has proposed the arrangement of E-Visa for Chinese Nationals, which also is quite a progressive attempt towards giving the Tourism between the two a boost. Not keeping it confined to just Tourism, E-Visa is going to Hit a New-High to the relations.

Diplomatic Ties:-

Rightly said, “You cannot clap with one hand”! Both India and China are equally willing to mend the frustrated relations. China has announced the opening of a New Consulate General in Chennai, so has India! India has announced the opening of a New Consulate General in Chengdu.

International Association:-

India is stepping up efforts to extend the ties with China Internationally, planning to become a member of the 21-member grouping of economies on the Pacific Rim and the Shanghai cooperation.

Keeping up with the glamour associated with this Tour, It is note-worthy that the International Audience is closely keeping a track of each and every foot being put forward by the Nations. Prime Minister did mention in his address to China about the clubbing of the two most potentially populated Economies of the World, “Had we earlier thought about the power of these two Countries together?” The question arises, “Is the World afraid?”

Bro-Mode:-

What Antiquity has to say on this? Flipping back the pages of history, First Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru coined the phrase “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai!” based on the cultural similarities and common kind of socialistic goals both the Nations aspired to achieve. But, this was not it, this declaration was followed by three major military conflicts between the two in 1962, 1967 and 1987 and there busted the reality check. Nonetheless, it is never too late if we are willing and the situations are favouring! This probably sums up the entire three-day event.

I’m wondering, the World is wondering too, does this indicate the switching-on of the “Bro-Mode”?

Conclusion:-

A conclusion on this should better be left on time for only time could comment on how the two Nationalistic and Assertive Asian Leaders NaMo and Xi Dada (Xi Jinping) would bring these two Asian Giants together.  However, amid all the speculations echoing in the corridors of criticism, it is interesting that the two are working towards strengthening a substantially political as well as economic bond.